Meal Plan Monday, Weird Weather & What I'm Working on This Week

I am trying not to grocery shop this week unless it's something I really need.  I was good with staying out of the grocery stores last week, until I hit Friday.  Had to take BIL to the store so I was forced, forced I tell ya!, to go into the store so I bought a few things.  I picked up some Kielbasa for $2.50 lb. after holding out for months to find my rock bottom price of $2 lb.....sigh.....salad greens for $1.99 a bag x 2, a carton of OJ for $1.99, some bananas, and a Quaker Deal--buy 5 items, get $3 instantly off your order.  I got 3 boxes of the new Quaker cereal for $2.50 ea. and 2 bottles of pancake syrup since I had none left in the stockpile, so $12.50 for all 5, $3 off and $3 more off because I had $1/1 Qs for the cereal.  The 5 Quaker items ended up costing me $6.50 which is very good for around here.

Then Saturday I went back to that same store...ugh....did another of the Quaker deal(cost me $6 OOP for 5 items this time), more Kielbasa(I have come to gripes with the fact that my new rock bottom price for this is $2.50lb.), got a 2lb. tub of Ricotta for $3.24 w/Q and sale price, and a 1lb. bag of mozzarella cheese for $3.50 since Hubs said I was out of that in the freezer.  Hubs picked up coffee filters since he was out and I bought the kids a container of Nestle Quik since they have been whining for it(and it was on sale, but I think they figured that out themselves lol).

Between these 2 trips and the one to pick up milk last week, I went for spending $0 at the grocery store to $44.96 spent by Saturday.
Ugh.

That is why I am trying to stay out this week and eat from the freezer/stockpile.

I'm having trouble this week coming up with a Meal Plan/Menu.
Just mental menu fatigue I guess.....

Here's what I've got so far--
Monday-Pork Chops, Rice, Veggie
Tuesday-Eat Out...my last birthday gift card
Wednesday-Fish, Crabcakes, Veggie, Coleslaw(leftover)
Thursday-Ravioli, Salad
Friday-Tacos, Corn, Chili(leftover)
Saturday-?? Maybe a big pot of Boston Baked Beans and cornbread
Sunday-Leftovers

I've got to dig around in the fridge and if I find any other leftovers I'll work them into one of my meals.
I've got some potatoes I need to use although I don't feel like having spuds.  I'm sure if I fry them up the kids will suck them down, right?lol

In other news....
The Snowpocalypse never materialized here.  We got about 6 inches of snow, then 2 inches of sleet and ice the following day, which encapsulated all the snow.
The ice was so thick over the snow that #2 Son was out in the yard snowboarding in Chuck Taylors.  He could 'skate' around on the ice and don't break through to the snow layer....

 The sloped part of the yard here was akin to a luge track.  He has pretty good balance to stay on his feet all the way down to the bottom....

Between the snow and ice and the squirrels raiding the suet feeder at the end of the deck, the Beagle was having a great week outside.....

We finally got the last piece of the tax info we needed to do all the tax forms today.
Rah!

Guess what is on my agenda for the rest of the week now? ;-)

First I have to do our State taxes, so I can get that info I need to do the Schedule A for the Federal taxes.
Then I get to calculate all the charitable donation amounts(Sallie's, Food Bank, Car Donation).
Then I get to see if we can file the Schedule A or just take the Standard Deduction.
After the taxes are finished, I get to start on the FAFSA x 2.
And on and on and on......
Are we having fun yet???!!! 8-)

I didn't get to the Food Bank to drop off the donation on Friday as I had wanted to because I had to take BIL out to do errands.  There is a very small window of time on Fridays where I can drop it off so this week, unless the weather intervenes, I'll make a point of getting there.

I'm updating my "To-Do" List on the blog this week as well.  I won't be putting more books on my list since I have tons of taxes paperwork to do this month.  Besides the paperwork, I'll be trying to finish the items carried over from January's list.

Dentist appointments are also on the schedule for this week.
Oh....and runs to Rite-Aid of course!lol

What is everyone else up to this week?

Sluggy

Are You Ready for Some Rite-Aid?......Non-Super Bowl Sunday

I have no love for football so I don't watch the Super Bowl.
Yes, I am so UN-American, aren't I?

Instead, I take advantage of everyone else being glued to the TV to go to Rite-Aid.lol

Transaction #1....

1 x Newspaper=$1.00 *not pictured*
2 x Fritos on sale=$3.98 *only bought 1/charged for 2 and it's not pictured*lol
4 x Welch's Grape Juice on sale $3 ea.=$12.00
2 x Finesse 'Poo on sale $3 ea.=$6.00
2x Excedrin PM on sale $1.99 ea.=$3.98
2 x Rite-Aid Coffee on sale $2.50 but rang up $1.99=$3.98
SubTotal....$30.94

Coupons Used
1 x $2 any Purchase Adperks/VV Q=$2.00
4 x $1/1 Welch's Grape Juice ManuQ=$4.00
2 x $2.50/1 Excedrin PM TearpadQ=$5.00
2 x $2/1 R-A Coffee Wellness IPQ=$4.00
Coupon Total....$15.00

$30.94-$15.00=$15.94+$.16tax=$16.10
Used $16 +Up Rewards and .10¢ put on free Rite-Aid gift card.
I received $8 +Up Rewards back(2 x $1 Welch's, $1 wyb 2Coffee, $5 wyb 2Finesse).

I only bought 1 Fritos.  Sometimes the scanner wand is sensitive and as they bag stuff too close to the scanner it scans again and me nor the cashier didn't catch it this time, so I had to go back in to get $2 back.  So I 'converted' $2 in +Ups to cash on that. ;-)

The Rite-Aid coffee is ringing up $1.99, so after coupons and $1+Up it's better than free!  Not sure how long that will last however....

Transaction #2....

2 x BC Cookie Mix on sale $2ea.=$4.00
2 x BC Frosting wellness disc. less than sale price $1.99=$3.98
2 x Finesse 'Poo on sale $3 ea.=$6.00
1 x Biotrue wellness disc. is less than sale price=$3.99
1 x Excedrin PM on sale=$1.99
1 x Chestal child's on sale=$4.99
1 x Coldcalm child's on sale=$6.99
1 x Oscillococcinum adult on sale=$8.99
2 x Cella cherries w/wellness disc. $.26=$.52
SubTotal....$41.45

Coupons Used
1 x $1 any Purchase AdPerks/VV Q=$1.00
2 x $1/2 BC items AdPerks/VV Q=$2.00
2 x $.40/1 BC cookie mix IPQ=$.80
1 x $1/1 Biotrue IPQ=$1.00
1 x $2.50/1 Excedrin PM TearpadQ=$2.50
1 x $3/1 Chestal child's IPQ=$3.00*
1 x $3/1 Coldcalm child's IPQ=$3.00*
Coupon Total....$13.30

$41.45-$13.30=$28.15+.04¢tax=$28.19 OOP
I used $27.98 and put the .21¢ left on my free Rite-Aid gift card.
I received $17 in +Up Rewards($5 wyb2 Finesse, $4 BioTrue, 2 x $2 wyb2 BC, 4 x $1 on select food items-bc items I bought).
I also qualified for $18.99 in SCRebates($8 Oscillococcinum, $6.99 childs Coldcalm, $4 child's Chestal).

So all totaled, I spent/rolled $43.98 in +Ups, got $25 in +Ups back and converted $20.99 of +Ups into cash(via SCRs and return/refund of phantom item I paid for).
$45.99(scrs/+ups got)-$43.98(+ups spent) means I had a $2.01 moneymaker when all is said and done.

I am down to my last .62¢ on my gift card.  But don't worry about me.....I have another $5 gift card at the ready. 8-)



THESE TRIPS
Number of Transactions.....2
Total Spent....$.31 (put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$117.19
SCR qualified for...$18.99
Other Rebates earned...$0.00
Gift Cards earned....$00.00
Resolution Reward....$00.00
+Up Rewards earned...15.00
+Up Rewards spent...$41.98
+Up Rewards left to spend....$197.99 

GRAND TOTALS--February Rebate Period so far

Number of Transactions......15
Total Spent....$5.55 put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$781.92
SCR qualified for....$38.98
Other Cash....$0.00
Additional Rebates....$0.00
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$0.00

+UPS Totals for Feb. SCR period
+Up Rewards carryover from 2/5.....$224.97
+Up Rewards spent....$206.94
+Up Rewards earned....$248.93
+Up Rewards left....$197.99 includes ALL +Ups not just ones from this SCR period


Sluggy

Got all my +Up Rewards rolled at Rite-Aid.....Finally!

I managed to get all my +Ups rolled on Friday that were expiring on Saturday at Rite-Aid.
That was a relief!lol

Since the Deals are over, here are the abbreviated details.
$39.74 subtotal
$10.50 after coupons
$10 +Ups used
$.50 on gift card
$85.32 value of items
$33 +Up Rewards received(including BIL's $20 Winter Reward)
This transaction was a $13 moneymaker.


Now I had $29.93 expiring on 2/12.....and another HUGE $ amount expiring on 2/19.....so I bopped up to Rite-Aid Saturday before the rain turned to nasty stuff to begin rolling the 2/12s.

Since the Deals are over, here are the abbreviated details.
$30.38 subtotal
$8.88 after coupons
$7.96 +Ups used

$.92 on gift card
$57.19 value of items
$13 +Up Rewards received
This transaction was a $5.04 moneymaker.

As of Saturday night I have $141.97 +Ups to roll before 2/19.
ACK!!!

My "These Trips" includes the trip on 2/3 that I posted earlier this week but didn't include that information....

THESE TRIPS
Number of Transactions.....3
Total Spent....$1.51 (put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$173.15
SCR qualified for...$0.00
Other Rebates earned...$0.00
Gift Cards earned....$00.00
Resolution Reward....$00.00
+Up Rewards earned...$55.00
+Up Rewards spent...$23.96
+Up Rewards left to spend....$224.97
 
GRAND TOTALS--February Rebate Period so far

Number of Transactions......13
Total Spent....$5.24 put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$664.73
SCR qualified for....$19.99
Other Cash....$0.00
Additional Rebates....$0.00
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$0.00

+UPS Totals for Feb. SCR period
+Up Rewards carryover from 1/30.....$193.93
+Up Rewards spent....$164.96
+Up Rewards earned....$233.93
+Up Rewards left....$224.97 includes ALL +Ups not just ones from this SCR period


Sluggy

Sluggy's Birthday Boring Blog Giveaway Post #6....Time to Enter Again!

Are y'all getting bored with these giveaway posts yet?lol

Time for Post 6 for the Birthday Boring Blog Giveaway!

If this is your first time here, get up to speed on how this Giveaway works by looking HERE.

Check out the rules.....
The Rules
1. You must be a "Follower" of my blog to enter and still be a Follower if/when you win.  Lookie on the right sidebar and press the big ol' FOLLOW button if you are not already a follower.
2.  Sorry but this Giveaway is open ONLY to those with a mailing address within the USA.  Hate to have to do that but the postal rates outside the country are KILLER.
3. 1 vote/entry per post with 1 exemption.  You can leave more than 1 comment per post but only your 1st vote/comment will count.

The 1 Exemption....You can earn EXTRA ENTRIES this way....
*If you get someone to become a Follower and enter this giveaway you can earn an Extra Entry for each person you bring on board.  You can blog about the giveaway or email people or post about it on a message board or call your neighbor on the phone....whatever way you want to recruit them, I don't care.  Just make sure that they mention in their vote/comment/entry that You(your name here)told them about the blog/giveaway and you get an extra entry that post.


As always, this is not a company sponsored or company supplied Giveaway.  Any costs associated with this Giveaway are coming out of my pocket because I'm just that kinda gal.  Please patronize our blog ads....I'm just sayin'.... ;-)


Now down to the business at hand.

Here are your 3 items to choose from today....

1. A Candle-cinnamon scented
2. Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea-Chamomille
3. Glade Candle/Oil Tin w/oil candle-fresh linen scent


Just leave a comment on this post within the next 3 days with your choice of #1, 2 or 3.
Additional praise for me on the anniversary of my birth is welcomed but won't earn you any Brownie points for the Giveaway. ;-)

Sluggy

Keeping Your Eyes Open for Deals in The Stores

While I DID succeed in blowing up my Food Budget for January, I don't consider it a total FAIL.
I didn't go over by a large amount(thank you rebate checks!)and I did manage to pick up some very nice deals, both planned for and not planned.

Some deals I got were intentional.  Like this one.....

I saw that the local chain market was running a special on the veggie Ronzoni pasta...$1 a box.  I jumped on eBay and found a deal for 20 $1/1 coupons.  After they arrived I managed to get my hands on 18 boxes of the pasta.  With shipping the coupons cost me $2.28.  Not a bad price for 18 boxes of noodles.

Here's some of the 14 boxes of dishwasher detergent I talked about earlier this week, that I picking up at CVS as well....

Between CVS, Wags and Rite-Aid I got 20 boxes and am set for another year.

And here is another deal I saw and jumped on.....

Weis markets had these croutons for $1 a bag.  I was almost out of croutons so I picked up a stack of $.50/1 coupons.  Weis doubles(to $1) up to 4 of an alike coupon per transaction, so I spent that week buying 4 bags at a clip so the coupons would double and they would all be free.  Now I am set for croutons for another year.

But there are always unexpected deals that pop up if you look around the store sometimes.  Keeping your eyes open can reap rewards like this.....

I found these cans of Comstock Pie Filling at CVS on the After-Christmas Clearance shelves.  There were only stocked for Christmas so went to 75% off with the bows and paper and candy and such.
Though not an extremely great price at .69¢ per can, I had 3 .55¢/1 coupons for Comstock pie filling from the Sunday inserts, so I paid only .14¢ for 3 of these cans.  Not a bad haul for $2.49, right?

And how about these....

I was walking around the local grocery store since I had to drive my BIL there to do his shopping and spotted these bottle of olive oil on clearance marked down half price to $3!
I showed BIL the great deal and after he took as many as he wanted, I grabbed the rest.
Being a good person can reap unusual rewards....lol

And here was another Jan. unexpected deal.....

The day I was in Redner's market they were clearancing these yogurt packs for .99¢ since they were going out of date soon.
Great price.
But even better because I had GM inserts in the car with $1/1 coupons for these....woohoo!
Free yogurt!

So just in Jan. I got enough pasta, croutons, dishwasher detergent to last me a year.....olive oil and pie filling to last me at least 6 months, and yogurt to last a few months or longer(yogurt is great frozen too).
And now I can mark those items off my stockpile shopping list for quite some time and concentrate on other items.

I am usually one to quickly get my items, get through the store and get out.  But sometimes it does pay to take your time and wander slowly through the grocery store looking for unexpected deals, markdowns, clearanced items and even tearpad or blinkie box coupons.

Remember those croutons?  Every trip to buy 4 bags I picked up a few blinkie box coupons for Hormel Compleats at the other end of that aisle in the store.
Hubs likes to take those Compleats to work for lunch and you know that Rite-Aid puts them on sale fairly regularly so I can use those coupons I gleaned for more free Compleats! 8-)

Do you wander the grocery store aisles looking for coupons or unexpected deals?

Sluggy